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Washburn
WD46S Dreadnought Rarewoods Acoustic Reviewer: Phil Para Distributor: Central Musical Instruments |
To commemorate Washburn’s 120th anniversary, they have released a Reserved Edition called Rarewoods Acoustics. These limited run guitars are crafted from hand selected exotic hardwoods that have been kept aside in anticipation of this event.
The WD46S is hailed as the cream of the crop in the anniversary series and features:
• Brazilian Rosewood back and sides
• Solid Spruce
• Abalone soundhole rosettes
• Bound Rosewood fingerboard with Mother of Pearl diamond inlays
• Mahogany neck
• Vintage crown headstock with abalone logo and inlay
• Rosewood butterfly bridge
• Grover tuners
• Molded hardshell case
• One extra set of Vinci 807s XLP phosphor bronze strings
• Certificate of AuthenticityOn first glance I knew that this guitar was a little out of the ordinary and at this point I had no idea that the instrument I had been given to review was a special edition at all. On closer inspection the craftsmanship is outstanding. The Washburn Dreadnought has a Brazilian Rosewood body with a rich linear grain that seems to radiate through the very lustrous finish. Both back sections have been beautifully matched and the solid top is a silky blonde spruce with a clear finish. The headstock is made from what I believe is mahogany with a rosewood top and carries Grover tuning machines. The Washburn trademark has been brilliantly inlaid with abalone and runs into a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard that has Mother of Pearl diamond inlays. Wonderfully ornate abalone inlays also decorate the body and sound hole. Visually this guitar is very exotic and looks like a few thousand dollars, so it was time to see if it played that way.
I was able to play this guitar straight out of the box but there is certainly room for personal setup. The Grover machine heads are a good choice for the wood mass of the headstock because they are not too heavy and therefore there is no compromise of tone. Although they look quite large at first glance they do not account for any extra weight and the guitar retains a good balance. The neck has 20 standard sized frets, which are tapered evenly and fit smoothly into the white binding. The truss rod is easily accessible from the sound hole and Washburn thoughtfully supply instructions and a wrench to help with adjustments.
The WD46S has a full bright tone and plays very consistently all the way up the neck. In fact I think the neck is a strong feature as the width and contour should be comfortable for any player. The sound projects really well and has a remarkably enhanced ringing sustain. I experienced no string buzz anywhere on the board at all.
My conclusion is that it does play like a few thousand dollars.
My personal belief is that this guitar should not be tampered with at all by fitting a preamp and would suggest that it is best left to age complete as the desirable rare model it is. There are more natural ways to amplify the sound and the user should explore those options.
Style wise this guitar will translate very well for most genres and being unable to put it down since it was delivered I have personally put it through its paces with many, many different styles. Washburn have made a guitar whose specific characteristics will be appreciated by a vast array of musicians.
The WD46S retails at an unbelievable $699 and may be at risk of being overlooked in favour of high-end expensive brands. If you are looking for an acoustic I urge you to try out this guitar regardless of its price, before making a decision, as I feel that it is the complete package of the highest standards: Wood, components, craftsmanship, playability and tonal quality. I have no idea how Washburn will make a profit at this price but perhaps they prefer to be magnanimous in favour of simply creating an instrument that truly celebrates their 120th anniversary and is accessible by everyone.
Washburn backs this guitar with a limited lifetime warranty, which should help to assure potential buyers of the products integrity.
My prediction is that this instrument is marked to become a highly sought after vintage in years to come.